Recording device, recording system, and control method and program for recording device

Abstract

To prevent over- or under-ordering of consumables. [Solution] The printer's CPU determines the order quantities of consumables, such as ink, cut paper, and cutter, based on the usage status of the roll. Regarding the order quantity of ink, the CPU performs switching control, switching between a first step (S9) in which the order quantity is determined to be "Ni" based on the amount of roll paper used per unit time (S8), and a second step (S10) in which the order quantity is determined to be "Ni+α". Regarding the order quantity of cut paper, the CPU performs switching control, switching between a first step (S13) in which the order quantity is determined to be "Ns-β" based on the remaining amount of roll paper (S2-S4), depending on whether the order quantity for the roll has been determined to be "0 (zero)".

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a recording system, a control method and a program for a recording apparatus that perform a recording operation using a roll body and consumables other than the roll body.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic ordering system for consumables used in a printer (recording apparatus). The system detects the remaining amount of the consumables and automatically determines and places an order for the order amount based on the remaining amount.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a recording apparatus, there is a recording unit that records an image on a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body, and a recording operation is performed using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body. When ordering consumables for the recording apparatus, if the order amount is determined only based on the remaining amount of the consumables as in Patent Document 1, an excess or deficiency of the order amount may occur.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus, a recording system, a control method and a program for a recording apparatus that can suppress an excess or deficiency of the order amount of consumables.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The recording device according to the present invention comprises a recording unit that records an image on a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body, and a control unit, and performs a recording operation using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body, wherein the control unit performs switching control that switches between a first decision step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a first order quantity based on the usage status of the roll medium, and a second decision step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a second order quantity that is greater than the first order quantity.

[0007] The recording system according to the present invention is a recording system comprising a storage unit and a control unit, wherein the storage unit is capable of storing the usage status of the roll medium in a recording device that includes a recording unit for recording an image on a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body and performs a recording operation using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body, and the control unit is characterized in that it performs switching control by switching between a first decision step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a first order quantity and a second decision step of determining the order quantity as a second order quantity greater than the first order quantity, based on the usage status stored in the storage unit.

[0008] The control method according to the present invention is a control method for a recording device that includes a recording unit for recording an image on a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body, and performs a recording operation using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body, characterized in that it performs switching control by switching between a first decision step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a first order quantity based on the usage status of the roll medium, and a second decision step of determining the order quantity as a second order quantity that is greater than the first order quantity.

[0009] The program according to the present invention is characterized in that a recording device, which includes a recording unit for recording images on a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body and performs recording operations using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body, functions as a means for performing switching control, which switches between a first decision step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a first order quantity based on the usage status of the roll medium, and a second decision step of determining the order quantity as a second order quantity that is greater than the first order quantity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the order quantity for consumables is determined based on the usage status of the roll body. This makes it possible to suppress over- or under-ordering of consumables. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention connected to an order-taking device via a network. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view showing the printer with the roll of material stored inside. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a side view showing the printer with cut paper loaded into it. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a flowchart showing the program executed by the CPU of the printer. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart following Figure 4. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart corresponding to Figure 4, showing the program executed by the CPU of the printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] <First Embodiment> As shown in Figure 1, the printer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected to the order receiving device 2 via a network 3. The printer 1 corresponds to the "recording device" of the present invention and also to the "recording system" of the present invention.

[0013] In the example of FIG. 1, a plurality of printers 1 are each connected to an order receiving device 2 via a network 3. A user of each printer 1 can place an order for consumables in the printer 1 by operating the printer 1 to transmit information to the order receiving device 2 via the network 3. The consumables will be described in detail later.

[0014] The order receiving device 2 is under the management of a supplier who is the order destination of the consumables.

[0015] The printer 1 includes a communication unit 10, a control device 90, a conveyance motor 4M, a driver IC 5D, a cutting motor 6M, an input unit 31, and an output unit 32. These elements are electrically connected to each other via an internal bus 95.

[0016] The communication unit 10 is an interface for communicating with external devices (such as the order receiving device 2 and other PCs).

[0017] The control device 90 includes a CPU 91, a ROM 92, and a RAM 93. Programs and data for the CPU 91 to perform various controls are stored in the ROM 92. The RAM 93 temporarily stores data used when the CPU 91 executes programs. The CPU 91 corresponds to the "control unit" of the present invention. The RAM 93 corresponds to the "storage unit" of the present invention.

[0018] The input unit 31 includes, for example, a touch panel, push buttons, etc. The push buttons include the "order button" described later.

[0019] The output unit 32 includes, for example, a display, a speaker, etc. The output unit 32 corresponds to the "notification unit" of the present invention.

[0020] As further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printer 1 further includes a housing 1A, a paper feed tray 11, a paper discharge tray 12, a conveyance mechanism 4, a head 5, a cutter 6, and an ink cartridge 50.

[0021] In the following description, with reference to the state where the printer 1 is enabled for use, the vertical, horizontal, and front-rear directions of the printer 1 are defined.

[0022] The conveyance mechanism 4 and the head 5 are disposed within the housing 1A. The paper discharge tray 12 is constituted by a front side wall at the upper portion of the housing 1A and is openable and closable with respect to the housing 1A. The paper feed tray 11, the cutter 6, and the ink cartridge 50 are detachable with respect to the housing 1A.

[0023] The paper feed tray 11 has a box shape that opens upward and is detachable from the lower portion of the housing 1A. The paper feed tray 11 is pulled out from the housing 1A by moving forward with respect to the housing 1A and is attached to the housing 1A by moving backward with respect to the housing 1A.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed tray 11 includes a first accommodating portion 11A capable of accommodating the roll body R, and, as shown in FIG. 3, a second accommodating portion 11B capable of accommodating a plurality of cut papers Cs stacked in the vertical direction. The first accommodating portion 11A and the second accommodating portion 11B are arranged in the front-rear direction. The first accommodating portion 11A is located in front of the second accommodating portion 11B.

[0025] The conveyance mechanism 4 can selectively convey the roll paper Rs unwound from the roll body R accommodated in the first accommodating portion 11A and the uppermost cut paper Cs among the plurality of cut papers Cs accommodated in the second accommodating portion 11B. The conveyance mechanism 4 conveys the roll paper Rs or the cut paper Cs in the conveyance direction from the paper feed tray 11 toward the paper discharge tray 12.

[0026] The roll body R is formed by winding the roll paper Rs in a roll shape around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical core member Rc. The roll paper Rs is a sheet-like medium unwound from the roll body R and corresponds to the "roll medium" of the present invention.

[0027] Two rollers 14 and 15 are positioned at the bottom of the first housing section 11A. The two rollers 14 and 15 are rotatable about an axis that extends in the left-right direction. When the roll body R is housed in the first housing section 11A, the central axis Rx of the core member Rc is aligned in the left-right direction, and the outer circumferential surface of its lower portion is supported by the two rollers 14 and 15.

[0028] Cut paper Cs is a sheet-like medium that is shorter in the transport direction than the roll paper Rs that make up the roll body R. Cut paper Cs corresponds to the "cut medium" of the present invention.

[0029] The conveying mechanism 4 includes a roller 41 and roller pairs 42 to 44.

[0030] The roller 41 is rotatably supported at one end of the arm 45. The other end of the arm 45 is supported by the housing 1A via an axis 45X that runs in the left-right direction. The arm 45 is rotatable about the axis 45X. The arm 45 is biased by a biasing member (not shown) in a direction that moves the roller 41 toward the bottom surface of the paper feed tray 11.

[0031] Each roller pair 42-44 includes a drive roller and a driven roller that moves in conjunction with the drive roller. Roller 41 and the drive rollers of roller pairs 42-44 are rotated by the transport motor 4M shown in Figure 1.

[0032] The ink cartridge 50 includes a cartridge for storing cyan ink I, a cartridge for storing magenta ink I, a cartridge for storing yellow ink I, and a cartridge for storing black ink I. Ink I corresponds to the "recording material" of the present invention. Black ink I corresponds to the "black material" of the present invention. Cyan, magenta, and yellow ink I are color inks and correspond to the "color material" of the present invention.

[0033] The head 5 is positioned between roller pair 43 and roller pair 44 in the transport direction. The head 5 has a plurality of nozzles opening on its lower surface. When the roll paper Rs or cut paper Cs transported by the transport mechanism 4 passes below the head 5, ink I is ejected from the nozzles by the drive of the driver IC 5D shown in Figure 1, and the ink I adheres to the roll paper Rs or cut paper Cs. As a result, an image is recorded on the roll paper Rs or cut paper Cs. The head 5 corresponds to the "recording unit" of the present invention.

[0034] The print head 5 is connected to the ink cartridge 50 via a tube. Inside the print head 5, there are four reservoirs for temporarily storing the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks I supplied from each of the four cartridges contained in the ink cartridge 50, and multiple flow paths from each of the four reservoirs to the nozzle.

[0035] The cutter 6 is positioned between the roller 41 and the roller pair 42 in the conveying direction. The cutter 6 includes a fixed blade extending in the left-right direction and a disc-shaped rotating blade positioned in contact with the fixed blade. Driven by the cutting motor 6M shown in Figure 1, the rotating blade moves in the left-right direction, thereby cutting the roll paper Rs in the left-right direction.

[0036] The cutter 6 may have only the rotating blade detachable from the housing 1A, or both the fixed blade and the rotating blade may be detachable from the housing 1A.

[0037] The CPU 91 controls the transport motor 4M and driver IC 5D (and also the cutting motor 6M if recording is performed on roll paper Rs) according to the programs and data stored in ROM 92 and RAM 93, based on recording commands input from the PC or input unit 31, to perform the recording operation. When recording is performed on roll paper Rs, the recording operation includes the cutting of the roll paper Rs by the cutter 6.

[0038] During the recording operation, a roll body R, cut paper Cs, ink I, and cutter 6 are used. The roll body R, cut paper Cs, ink I, and cutter 6 are consumed during the recording operation. The cut paper Cs, ink I, and cutter 6 are considered "consumables" according to the present invention.

[0039] Next, referring to Figures 4 and 5, the program executed by CPU 91 will be described.

[0040] First, as shown in Figure 4, the CPU 91 determines whether or not the order button has been pressed based on the signal from the input unit 31 (S1). If it determines that the order button has not been pressed (S1: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the process of S1.

[0041] If it is determined that the order button has been pressed (S1:NO), the CPU 91 determines whether the remaining amount of roll paper Rs is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount A (S2).

[0042] The remaining amount of roll paper Rs is stored in RAM 93. For example, when the roll body R is installed in the first storage unit 11A, the CPU 91 stores the total length of the roll paper Rs constituting the roll body R as the remaining amount of roll paper Rs in RAM 93. Subsequently, each time a recording operation is performed, the CPU 91 updates the remaining amount of roll paper Rs stored in RAM 93 to a value obtained by subtracting the amount of roll paper Rs transported during that recording operation.

[0043] If the CPU 91 determines that the remaining amount of roll paper Rs is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount A (S2: YES), it sets the order quantity for roll R to "0 (zero)" and stores this information in RAM 93 (S3).

[0044] If the remaining amount of roll paper Rs is determined to be less than a predetermined amount A (S2:NO), the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for roll R to be "Nr (where Nr is a natural number greater than or equal to 1)" and stores this information in the RAM 93 (S4).

[0045] The order quantity for roll body R refers to, for example, the number of roll body R units.

[0046] After S3 or S4, the CPU 91 determines whether the remaining amount of ink I is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount B (S5). The remaining amount of ink I indicates the degree of consumption of ink I as a consumable item.

[0047] The remaining amount of ink I is stored in RAM 93 for each of the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks. When the ink cartridge 50 is installed in the housing 1A, the CPU 91 stores the total amount of ink I stored in each of the four cartridges contained in the ink cartridge 50 as the remaining amount of ink I in RAM 93. Subsequently, each time a recording operation is performed, the CPU 91 updates the remaining amount of ink I stored in RAM 93 to a value obtained by subtracting the amount of ink I ejected from the head 5 during that recording operation.

[0048] Processes S5 through S10 are performed for each of the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks.

[0049] If the CPU 91 determines that the remaining amount of ink I is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount B (S5: YES), it sets the order quantity for ink I to "0 (zero)" and stores this information in the RAM 93 (S6).

[0050] If the CPU determines that the remaining amount of ink I is less than a predetermined amount B (S5: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether the ink I is a color ink or not (S7).

[0051] If the CPU determines that the ink I is a color ink (S7: YES), the CPU 91 determines whether the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount C, that is, whether the roll paper Rs is used frequently (S8).

[0052] The unit time is, for example, one month, one week, etc. The usage amount is defined by, for example, the cumulative time during which the recording operation was performed using the roll paper Rs, the cumulative amount of roll paper Rs transported, the cumulative number of ink droplets ejected onto the roll paper Rs, etc. The above cumulative time, cumulative amount transported, cumulative number, etc. are stored in RAM93 as history information. The CPU91 updates the history information stored in RAM93 each time the recording operation is performed. In S8, the CPU91 derives the usage amount of roll paper Rs per unit time from the history information stored in RAM93 and determines whether the usage amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount C.

[0053] If the CPU determines that the ink I is not a color ink (S7:NO), or if it determines that the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time is less than a predetermined amount C (S8:NO), the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for ink I to be "Ni (Ni is a natural number greater than or equal to 1)" and stores this information in the RAM 93 (S9).

[0054] If the CPU 91 determines that the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount C (S8: YES), the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for ink I to be "Ni + α (where α is a natural number greater than or equal to 1)" and stores this information in the RAM 93 (S10).

[0055] The order quantity for ink I refers to, for example, the number of cartridges that store ink I.

[0056] After S6, S9, or S10, the CPU 91 determines whether the remaining amount of cut paper Cs is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount D (S11). The remaining amount of cut paper Cs indicates the degree of consumption of the cut paper Cs as a consumable item.

[0057] The remaining amount of cut paper Cs is stored in RAM 93. The CPU 91 may derive the amount of cut paper Cs stored in the second storage unit 11B based on a signal from a sensor (not shown) provided in the second storage unit 11B and store it in RAM 93. Alternatively, the CPU 91 may store the remaining amount of cut paper Cs in RAM 93 based on information input by the user via the input unit 31.

[0058] If the CPU 91 determines that the remaining amount of cut paper Cs is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount D (S11: YES), it sets the order quantity for cut paper Cs to "0 (zero)" and stores this information in the RAM 93 (S12).

[0059] If the remaining amount of cut paper Cs is determined to be less than a predetermined amount D (S11: NO), the CPU 91 determines, based on the information stored in RAM 93, whether or not the order quantity for rolls R has been determined to be "0 (zero)" (S13).

[0060] If the CPU determines that the order quantity for roll R has not been determined to be "0 (zero)", that is, that the order quantity for roll R has been determined to be "Nr" (S13: NO), the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for cut paper Cs to be "Ns (where Ns is a natural number greater than or equal to 2)" and stores this information in RAM 93 (S14).

[0061] If the CPU 91 determines that the order quantity for rolls R is "0 (zero)" (S13: YES), the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for cut sheets Cs as "Ns - β (where β is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 that is less than Ns)" and stores this information in RAM 93 (S15).

[0062] The order quantity for cut paper (Cs) refers, for example, to the number of bundles of cut paper. One bundle contains multiple sheets of cut paper (Cs).

[0063] After S12, S14, or S15, the CPU 91 determines whether the amount of cutter 6 used is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount E, as shown in Figure 5 (S16). The amount of cutter 6 used indicates the degree of wear of the cutter 6 as a consumable item.

[0064] The usage of cutter 6 is derived based on the number of times cutter 6 has cut the roll paper Rs since cutter 6 was installed in housing 1A. The number of cuts is stored in RAM 93. When cutter 6 is installed in housing 1A, CPU 91 stores an initial value of "0 (zero)" as the number of cuts in RAM 93. Subsequently, CPU 91 updates the number of cuts stored in RAM 93 each time a cutting operation is performed.

[0065] If the CPU 91 determines that the amount of cutter 6 used is less than a predetermined amount E (S16: NO), it sets the order quantity for cutter 6 to "0 (zero)" and stores this information in the RAM 93 (S17).

[0066] If the CPU 91 determines that the amount of cutter 6 used is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount E (S16: YES), it determines whether the amount of cutter 6 used is less than a predetermined amount E' (>E) (S18).

[0067] If the CPU 91 determines that the amount of cutter 6 used is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount E' (S18: NO), it sets the order quantity for cutter 6 to "Nc (where Nc is a natural number greater than or equal to 1)" and stores this information in the RAM 93 (S19).

[0068] If the amount of cutter 6 used is determined to be less than a predetermined amount E' (S18: YES), the CPU 91 determines, based on the information stored in RAM 93, whether or not the order quantity for the roll body R has been determined to be "0 (zero)" (S20).

[0069] If the CPU determines that the order quantity for roll body R has not been determined to be "0 (zero)", that is, that the order quantity for roll body R has been determined to be "Nr" (S20: NO), the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for cutter 6 to be "Nc (where Nc is a natural number greater than or equal to 1)" and stores this information in RAM 93 (S19).

[0070] If the CPU 91 determines that the order quantity for roll body R is "0 (zero)" (S20: YES), the CPU 91 determines that the order quantity for cutter 6 is "0 (zero)" and stores this information in RAM 93 (S17).

[0071] The order quantity for cutter 6 refers, for example, to the number of cutter 6 units. If only the rotating blades of the fixed blades that make up cutter 6 are detachable from housing 1A, the order quantity for cutter 6 may refer to the number of rotating blades. If both the fixed blades and rotating blades that make up cutter 6 are detachable from housing 1A, the order quantity for cutter 6 may refer to the number of cutter 6 units consisting of a fixed blade and a rotating blade as a pair.

[0072] After S17 or S19, the CPU 91 notifies the order quantity via the display and speaker that constitute the output unit 32 (S21).

[0073] The order quantity reported in S21 is an order quantity based on information stored in RAM93, and includes the order quantity of roll body R determined in S3 or S4, the order quantity of ink I determined in S6, S9 or S10, the order quantity of cut paper Cs determined in S12, S14 or S15, and the order quantity of cutter 6 determined in S17 or S19.

[0074] In S21, the CPU 91 notifies the user of each order quantity, as well as prompting the user to input whether or not a change is necessary for each order quantity and, if so, the revised order quantity. The user can then input whether or not a change is necessary for each order quantity and, if so, the revised order quantity via the input unit 31, in response to the notification via the output unit 32.

[0075] After S21, the CPU 91 determines, based on the signal from the input unit 31, whether the user has entered a change to any of the above order quantities (S22).

[0076] If the CPU 91 determines that the user has entered that no change is needed for any of the above order quantities (S22: NO), the CPU 91 does not change the order quantity and outputs the order quantity reported in S21, i.e., the order quantity based on the information stored in RAM 93, to the order receiving device 2 via the communication unit 10 (S23).

[0077] If the CPU 91 determines that the user has entered a change request for any of the above order quantities (S22:YES), the CPU 91 changes the order quantity that was entered as needing a change to the user-specified order quantity and stores this information in the RAM 93 (S24).

[0078] After S24, the CPU 91 outputs the order quantity based on the information stored in RAM 93 to the order receiving device 2 via the communication unit 10 (S23).

[0079] The supplier can confirm each order quantity output in S23 via the order receiving device 2 and proceed with the delivery work.

[0080] After S23, the CPU 91 updates the remaining amount of roll paper Rs, the remaining amount of ink I, the remaining amount of cut paper Cs, and the number of cuts corresponding to the amount of cutter 6 used, which are stored in RAM 93, based on the order quantity output in S23 (S25).

[0081] The remaining amounts of roll paper Rs, ink I, and cut paper Cs are updated to the values ​​including the ordered quantity. The number of cuts may be updated to the initial value "0 (zero)" when the ordered cutter 6 is delivered and installed in the housing 1A.

[0082] After S25, CPU91 terminates the program.

[0083] The predetermined quantities A to E, E' and the order quantities Nr, Ni, Ns, Nc, α, β are values ​​entered by the user via the input unit 31 and are stored in the ROM 92. Alternatively, the predetermined quantities A to E may be determined by the manufacturer at the time of printer 1's manufacture and stored in the ROM 92.

[0084] As described above, according to this embodiment, the order quantities of consumables, namely ink I, cut paper Cs, and cutter 6, are determined based on the usage status of the roll body R. Specifically, regarding the order quantity of ink I, the CPU 91 performs switching control, switching between a first step (S9) in which the order quantity is determined to be "Ni" (first order quantity) based on the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time, which corresponds to the usage status of the roll body R (S8), and a second step (S10) in which the order quantity is determined to be "Ni+α" (second order quantity). Regarding the order quantity of cut paper Cs, the CPU 91 performs switching control, switching between a first step (S15) in which the order quantity is determined to be "Ns-β" (first order quantity) based on the remaining amount of roll paper Rs, which corresponds to the usage status of the roll body R (S2-S4), depending on whether the order quantity of the roll body R has been determined to be "0 (zero)" (S13), and a second step (S14) in which the order quantity is determined to be "Ns" (second order quantity). Regarding the order quantity for cutter 6, the CPU 91 performs switching control, which switches between a first step (S17) to determine the order quantity as "0 (zero)" (first order quantity) and a second step (S19) to determine the order quantity as "Nc" (second order quantity), depending on whether the order quantity for roll body R has been determined to be "0 (zero)" (S20) based on the remaining amount of roll paper Rs, which corresponds to the usage status of roll body R (S2-S4). By performing this switching control, it is possible to suppress over- or under-ordering of consumables.

[0085] The CPU 91 executes switching control if the wear level of the consumables, ink I, cut paper Cs, and cutter 6, is above a standard value, and does not execute switching control if the wear level is below the standard value. Specifically, if the remaining amount of ink I, which indicates the wear level, is less than a predetermined amount B (S5: NO), the CPU 91 assumes that the wear level of ink I is above the standard value and executes switching control (S9, S10). On the other hand, if the remaining amount of ink I is above a predetermined amount B (S5: YES), the CPU 91 assumes that the wear level of ink I is below the standard value and does not execute switching control. If the remaining amount of cut paper Cs, which indicates the wear level, is less than a predetermined amount D (S11: NO), the CPU 91 assumes that the wear level of cut paper Cs is above the standard value and executes switching control (S14, S15). On the other hand, if the remaining amount of cut paper Cs is above a predetermined amount D (S11: YES), the CPU 91 assumes that the wear level of cut paper Cs is below the standard value and does not execute switching control. If the amount used by cutter 6, which indicates the degree of wear, is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount E (S16: YES), the degree of wear of cutter 6 is considered to be greater than or equal to the standard value, and switching control (S17, S19) is executed. On the other hand, if the amount used by cutter 6 is less than the predetermined amount E (S16: NO), the degree of wear of cutter 6 is considered to be less than the standard value, and switching control is not executed. In this way, by executing switching control only when the degree of wear is high, the control can be simplified.

[0086] In recording operations using roll paper Rs, a large amount of ink I may be consumed. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time is less than a predetermined amount C (threshold) (S8: NO), the CPU 91 executes a first step (S9) to determine the order amount to be "Ni" (first order amount), thereby reducing the order amount of ink I. On the other hand, if the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount C (threshold) (S8: YES), the CPU 91 executes a second step (S10) to determine the order amount to be "Ni + α" (second order amount), thereby increasing the order amount of ink I. This effectively suppresses any surplus or shortage in the order amount of ink I.

[0087] In recording operations using roll paper Rs, color ink is more likely to be used than black ink. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for color ink (S7:YES), it performs switching control (S8, S9, S10) based on the amount of roll paper Rs used. On the other hand, when the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for black ink (S7:NO), it does not perform switching control based on the amount of roll paper Rs used. This allows for the appropriate determination of the order quantities for both black ink and color ink.

[0088] The CPU 91 derives the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time from the history information stored in RAM 93, and based on this amount of usage, (S8) determines whether to execute the first decision step (S9) or the second decision step (S10). In this way, the CPU 91 can make decisions that are in line with the actual situation by deriving the amount of usage from the history information.

[0089] If there is a sufficient amount of roll paper Rs remaining, the roll paper Rs can be cut with the cutter 6 and used as cut paper Cs. In this embodiment, if the remaining amount of roll paper Rs is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount A (threshold) and the order quantity for roll R is determined to be "0 (zero)" (S13:YES), the CPU 91 determines the order quantity for cut paper Cs to be "Ns-β" (S15). This order quantity "Ns-β" is "β" less than the order quantity "Ns" when the remaining amount of roll paper Rs is less than a predetermined amount A (threshold) and the order quantity for roll R is not determined to be "0 (zero)" (S13:NO). This helps to suppress excessive ordering of cut paper Cs.

[0090] If the remaining amount of roll paper Rs is less than a predetermined amount A (threshold) (S2: NO), the CPU 91 decides to order rolls of R (S4) and also decides to order cutters 6 at a quantity of 1 or more (S20: NO → S19). On the other hand, if the remaining amount of roll paper Rs is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount A (threshold) (S2: YES), the CPU 91 does not order rolls of R (S3) and does not order cutters 6 (S20: YES → S17). This simplifies the ordering process.

[0091] The CPU 91 executes switching control (S20, S19, S17) if the amount of cutter 6 used is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount (E) and less than the second predetermined amount (E') (S16: YES → S18: YES). On the other hand, if the amount of cutter 6 used is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount (E') (S18: NO), the CPU 91 does not execute switching control and determines that the order quantity for cutter 6 is 1 or more (S19). In other words, if the degree of wear of the cutter 6 is high, the CPU 91 decides to order cutter 6 without considering the usage status of the roll body R. This makes it possible to suppress cutting defects due to wear of the cutter 6.

[0092] Before executing the output step (S23) in which the CPU 91 outputs the order quantity to the order receiving device 2, it executes a notification step (S21) in which it causes the output unit 32 to notify the user regarding the determined order quantity. This allows the user who receives the notification to decide whether the order quantity is acceptable and to take appropriate action.

[0093] <Second Embodiment> Next, a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0094] In the printer according to the second embodiment, a part of the program executed by the CPU 91 differs from that of the printer according to the first embodiment.

[0095] In the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, if the CPU 91 determines that the ink I is a color ink (S7: YES), it determines whether the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount C (S8).

[0096] In the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, if the CPU 91 determines that the ink I is a color ink (S7: YES), it determines whether the ratio of the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time to the amount of cut paper Cs used per unit time is equal to or greater than the threshold F (S28).

[0097] In recording operations using roll paper Rs, a large amount of ink I may be consumed. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the ratio of the amount of roll paper Rs used per unit time to the amount of cut paper Cs used per unit time is less than a threshold F (S28: NO), the CPU 91 executes a first step (S9) to determine the order amount to be "Ni" (first order amount), thereby reducing the order amount of ink I. On the other hand, if the above ratio is greater than or equal to the threshold F (S28: YES), the CPU 91 executes a second step (S10) to determine the order amount to be "Ni + α" (second order amount), thereby increasing the order amount of ink I. This effectively suppresses any surplus or shortage in the order amount of ink I.

[0098] <Variation> Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various design modifications are possible as long as they are within the scope of the claims.

[0099] For example, in the above embodiment, the program is started when the order button is pressed (S1), but it is not limited to this. For example, the program may be started when the recording operation is completed. The program according to the present invention may be started at any time.

[0100] In the above program, the remaining amount of roll paper Rs, the remaining amount of ink I, and the remaining amount of cut paper Cs may be values ​​based on sensor detection, or values ​​entered by the user via the input unit 31.

[0101] The notification does not need to include a notification prompting the user to input information.

[0102] Notification may only be given when the first order quantity has been determined.

[0103] The sheet-like medium is not limited to paper; it may also be cloth or plastic film. In other words, the sheet-like medium may be made of any material as long as it is in sheet form.

[0104] In the case of a liquid ejection type recording unit, the recording unit may eject a liquid other than ink (for example, a processing liquid that causes components in the ink to coagulate or precipitate). In this case, the recording material may be a processing liquid or the like.

[0105] The recording unit is not limited to a liquid ejection type, but may also be a laser type, thermal transfer type, etc. If the recording unit is a laser type, the recording material may be toner. If the recording unit is a thermal transfer type, the recording material may be an ink ribbon.

[0106] Consumables are not limited to ink, cut paper, and cutter, as exemplified in the embodiments described above. For example, a consumable may be a waste ink box. The waste ink box is a container that stores ink ejected from the print head and is replaced when it becomes full. During recording, the printer collects the ink ejected from the print head into the waste ink box. Alternatively, consumables may include a photoconductor drum, a paper feed roller, and the like.

[0107] The recording device according to the present invention is not limited to a printer, but may also be a facsimile, copier, multifunction device, etc.

[0108] The recording system according to the present invention is not limited to recording devices such as printers as exemplified in the embodiments described above. For example, the recording system according to the present invention may be an external device (such as an order processing device or a personal computer) connected to the recording device, or it may consist of a combination of a recording device and an external device.

[0109] The program according to the present invention can be recorded on removable recording media such as flexible disks or fixed recording media such as hard disks and distributed, as well as distributed via communication lines. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0110] 1. Printer (recording device, recording system) 4. Cutter (consumable item) 5. Head (recording unit) 32 Output Unit (Notification Unit) 91 CPU (Control Unit) 93 RAM (memory section) I. Ink (consumables, recording materials) R Roll Body Rs roll paper (roll media) Cs Cut Paper (Consumables, Cutting Medium)

Claims

1. A recording device comprising a recording unit for recording images on a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body, and a control unit, wherein the recording operation is performed using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body, The control unit, A recording device characterized by performing switching control, which involves switching between a first determination step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a first order quantity based on the usage status of the roll medium, and a second determination step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a second order quantity greater than the first order quantity.

2. The control unit, If the degree of wear of the consumables exceeds the standard value, the switching control is executed. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching control is not performed when the degree of wear of the consumable is less than the reference value.

3. The aforementioned consumables are recording materials, The recording unit records an image onto the roll medium by adhering the recording material to the roll medium. The control unit, If the amount of the roll medium used per unit time is less than the threshold, the first determination step is executed. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second determination step is performed when the amount of the roll medium used per unit time is equal to or greater than the threshold.

4. The aforementioned consumables are recording materials, The recording unit is capable of recording an image on the roll medium by attaching the recording material to the roll medium, and recording an image on the cut medium, which is a sheet-like medium shorter than the roll medium, by attaching the recording material to the cut medium. The control unit, If the ratio of the amount of the roll medium used per unit time to the amount of the cut medium used per unit time is less than the threshold, the first determination step is executed. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second determination step is performed when the ratio of the amount of use of the roll medium per unit time to the amount of use of the cut medium per unit time is equal to or greater than the threshold.

5. The recording material includes a black material and a colored material. The control unit, If the recording material is the black material, the switching control is not performed. The recording device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the switching control is performed when the recording material is the color material.

6. The system further includes a storage unit capable of storing historical information regarding the amount of usage, The recording device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the control unit derives the usage amount from the history information stored in the storage unit and determines whether to execute the first decision step or the second decision step based on the usage amount.

7. The aforementioned consumable is a cut medium, which is a sheet-like medium that is shorter than the roll medium. The recording unit is capable of recording images on the roll medium and the cut medium. The control unit, If the remaining amount of the roll medium is equal to or greater than the threshold, the first determination step is executed. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second determination step is performed when the remaining amount of the roll medium is less than the threshold.

8. The aforementioned consumable is a cutter for cutting the roll medium, The control unit, If the remaining amount of the roll medium is greater than or equal to a threshold, the first decision step is executed to determine the order quantity of the cutter to be zero. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that, if the remaining amount of the roll medium is less than the threshold, the second decision step is performed, which involves deciding to order the roll medium and deciding to order the cutter quantity to be 1 or more.

9. The control unit, If the amount used, which indicates the degree of wear of the cutter, is greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount and less than a second predetermined amount greater than the first predetermined amount, the switching control is executed. The recording device according to claim 8, characterized in that, if the amount of the cutter used is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount, the switching control is not performed and the order quantity for the cutter is determined to be 1 or more.

10. Furthermore, with the addition of a news department, The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that, after executing the switching control, the control unit executes a notification step to cause the notification unit to notify the determined order quantity before executing an output step to output the determined order quantity to the order receiving device.

11. Memory unit and, A recording system comprising a control unit, The storage unit is a recording device that includes a recording unit for recording images onto a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body, and performs recording operations using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body, and is capable of storing the usage status of the roll medium. The control unit, A recording system characterized by performing switching control, which involves switching between a first decision step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a first order quantity based on the usage status stored in the memory unit, and a second decision step of determining the order quantity as a second order quantity that is greater than the first order quantity.

12. A control method for a recording device that includes a recording unit for recording images on a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body, and performs the recording operation using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body, A control method characterized by performing switching control, which involves switching between a first decision step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a first order quantity based on the usage status of the roll medium, and a second decision step of determining the order quantity as a second order quantity that is greater than the first order quantity.

13. A recording device comprising a recording unit for recording images on a sheet-like roll medium unwound from a roll body, and which performs the recording operation using the roll body and consumables other than the roll body, A means for performing switching control, which involves switching between a first decision step of determining the order quantity of the consumables as a first order quantity based on the usage status of the roll media, and a second decision step of determining the order quantity as a second order quantity that is greater than the first order quantity. A program characterized by being designed to function as such.

Images